Just read a succinct but insightful article on MeetingsCanada.com that I’d like to share.  The article “What Does Your Meetings Client Really Want?” was written by industry insider Les Selby. Mr. Selby participated in M&IT’s recent IncentiveWorks trade show in Toronto and notes:

In the Executive Perspective session I moderated, it was interesting to hear the executives talk about how they measure the success of their events in so many different ways.

But one thing they all agreed on – an event is really an investment.

Les goes on to say that a great meeting professional is one who takes the time to understand the objectives of the event sponsor. He reminds planners that “Achievement of tangible business results – not holding a meeting – is the objective.” Read the entire article: meetingscanada.com.

4 and 5-night Mediterranean cruises, with balcony staterooms starting at $599* per person

LIBERTY OF THE SEAS – 4-Night Sailings – May 5, 2011 and May 19,2011
Balcony Stateroom starting at $599* per person
Barcelona – Nice (Villefranche) – Palma de Mallorca, Spain – Barcelona

LIBERTY OF THE SEAS – 5-Night Sailings – April 25, 2011 and April 30, 2011
Balcony staterooms staring from $699* per person
Barcelona – Monte Carlo- Florence (Livorno) – Rome (Civitavecchia) – Barcelona
Barcelona – NIce (Villefranche) – Rome (Civitavecchia) – Cagliari, Sardinia – Barcelona

*taxes/fees and gratuities additional

The Best of Europe: Inspiring Experiences and Unbeatable Value

For less than $150 per person, per night, your group can experience the romance and grandeur of Europe and the Rivieras. Every morning, they’ll step out onto their private balcony to discover an alluring new destination. Imagine your attendees:

• Strolling the promenade de la Croisette in Cannes and drinking in the stunning seaside views, or trying their luck in the grand Monte Carlo Casino.
• Exploring the most beautiful cities in Italy, including Pisa, and Florence – the birthplace of the Renaissance.
• Discovering the magnificence of the ancient city of Rome – home to historical, architectural and spiritual treasures.
• Driving along the dramatic coastline of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and visiting ancient villages along the way.
• Enjoying the gorgeous blue waters and unspoiled sandy-white beaches of Cagliari, Sardinia.

And the best part…they only have to unpack once!

Amazing, right? Now picture…

A resort-style, 3,634-passenger ship featuring:

• Incredible onboard sports and recreational facilities, including a surf park at sea, ice skating rink, rock-climbing wall, Everlast boxing ring, and cantilevered whirlpools extending 12 feet beyond the sides of the ship.
• Multiple dining venues – from an elegant 3-deck dining room to casual grill on deck.
• A variety of entertainment choices, including dancing under the stars in an open-air nightclub.
• All staterooms with flat-screen TV’s and luxurious bedding.

All included in the price of your cruise!

Need to conduct business while at sea?

Liberty of the Seas offers extensive Wi-Fi capabilities and mobile phone connectivity, dedicated conference space, and an array of lounges plus a main theater that can accommodate up to 1,280 for meeting and group events. Meeting space and A/V are also included with your cruise fare.

But wait, there’s more!

UPGRADE OFFER: You’ll receive 1 Junior Suite at the special balcony rates for every 20 staterooms (maximum of 6 upgrades).

So why not plan your next meeting or incentive on a dazzling ship cruising the Mediterranean Sea? These phenomenal rates are too good to pass up, and trust us – they won’t last long! You can learn more about Liberty of the Seas and check out the ship’s planner guide at Liberty of the Seas Ship Details.

To take advantage of these special group opportunities, call us today at 888-713-1317 /International: 1 -305- 403-3002 . Or, send us an email: CruiseAdvisors@seasite.com

Let’s get the bad news out of the way

Employee Engagement is Going Down the Tubes. According to a recent survey of 300 full-time financial services employees, only about half said they intend to stay with their employer for the long term or believe they have a promising future with their company, and only about half of those surveyed would recommend their company as a great place to work.

The results from Modern Survey’s Employee Engagement Index indicate that within the financial services industry, the engagement declines are much more dramatic than the overall U.S. workforce. Fully 62% of financial services employees are now disengaged or under-engaged.

Why should industry executives be concerned with these numbers? Greater employee engagement results in higher retention, higher productivity, and higher profitability. Do you really want your top performers jumping ship?

Now for the good news.

You can help boost employee engagement – face-to-face meetings and events are part of the solution.This morning’s MeetingsNet article “The New Crisis in Financial Services: Disengaged Employees” by Alison Hall quotes Don MacPherson, president of Modern Survey:

Senior leaders should focus on communicating the future of the organization. Meetings and events can be extremely helpful in accomplishing this, especially for large organizations. Anytime a CEO or executive team can get together in person to communicate the future of the organization, it’s a good thing.

Read the full article: Disengaged Employees Is Looming Crisis for Financial Services Industry

Cruising through the years

Before we look at Carnival Magic, let’s put things in perspective. Back in the day (circa 1990’s), cruise ship recreation meant days lounging languidly on deck with a good book. Perhaps a lively round of bingo on sea days, followed by an energetic game of shuffleboard or ping pong.

Fast forward to the new millennium

Royal Caribbean breaks the mold with the first rock climbing wall at sea (gasp!), an ice skating rink (with real ice!) and an indoor promenade soaring 4 decks high. What will they think of next? How about “flowrider” surf simulators, zip-line at sea, and a variety of  ship “neighborhoods” including Central Park (with real trees).

Not to be outdone, Norwegian Cruise Lines (formerly known as NCL), adds to their roster of “firsts at sea” with shipboard bowling  alleys, an Ice Bar, exclusive “villa” complexes, and entertainment straight from Vegas.

Other cruise lines get in the act as Princess unveils “movies under the stars”, Celebrity boasts the first “Lawn Club” with real grass, and NCL, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival sail neck-to-neck in the race to build the biggest, baddest aqua park at sea.

Now, back to Carnival Magic…

Carnival Magic RedFrog Pub

Here’s what’s on tap: the first indoor/outdoor pub at sea with a private-label beer brewed especially for the ship. The fist-ever cruise ship ropes course where thrill-seeking guests can traverse nets with views of the ocean 150 feet below. An outdoor weight-lifting area (a la Venice Beach) – another first at sea.

Oh, still curious about “getting dumped at sea”? You’ll have to climb into Carnival Magic’s gigantic, 500-gallon “dump bucket” to experience that for yourself. Don’t worry, you’ll be dropped in the pool – not the ocean!

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic will set sail May 2011 with a series of 7 to 12-night Mediterranean cruises. In November, Carnival Magic will reposition to Galveston, Texas to become the port’s largest year-round cruise ship, offering 7-night Caribbean cruises.

To learn more about mixing fun and business at sea, click on About Carnival Cruise Lines.

Have you seen the Super Planner iPhone App?

This handy business tool for professional planners was recently launched by Howard Givner, a widely recognized expert in the field of special events. With over 20 years of industry experience, Mr.Givner knows a thing or two about planning events – and the headaches that often come with the territory.

Ever wonder how many hors d’oeuvres you should order for a 2-hour cocktail party? How many waiters, bartenders, and check-in staff you need for your event? What room set-up works best? This app is a welcome time-saver that takes the guesswork out of planning.

Super Planner provides a variety of quick and convenient planning tools, including calculators for venue capacity, staffing, pricing conversion, catering, staging, projection and dance floor; as well as many useful tips in the areas of  Food & Beverage, A/V, and Venue Capacity.

To learn more about the Super Planner iPhone App and all the cool features, check out the demo video.

Shift Happens

I was driving (more like crawling) to work this morning, stuck in rush hour traffic and cursing the rude Miami drivers and road construction. Suddenly, a bumper sticker caught my eye: “Choose Optimism – It Feels Better. ” In an instant, my attitude shifted from grumpy to grateful as I began making a mental gratitude list. So when I turned on my computer and read Jeff Hurt’s Midcourse Corrections blog post, it made a whole lot of sense.

Jeff was one of the speakers who participated in the Experient e4 2010  “Dare To Be Different” Conference in Orlando. In his blog article, “10 Ways to Change the Way You See Everything”, he shares his notes from the closing general session, where speaker Hank Wasiak introduced the concept of ABT – Asset Based Thinking.

What Is ABT?

According to the ABT website,  “professionals from all walks of life can surpass their current levels of leadership, performance, teamwork, and results by shifting, ever so slightly, the way they see everything through Asset-Based Thinking (ABT).” ABT takes the spin of “positive thinking” to a whole new level.

From Jeff’s blog:

Emphasize the positive. With practice, shift your attitude from

• Too hard….to…so challenging
• I don’t want to…to…I want to
• You’ve got to be kidding…to…wow, that’s a great way to think about it
• That’s so strange…to…that is very unusual
• I wish they would stop that…to…I suggest that you try this
• I don’t like that…to…I like this better

Read Jeff’s article and learn 10 Ways to See Change Through the ABT Lens. Just click on Helping improve your annual meetings, conferences & education.

The flip side of ABT is DBT – Deficit-Based Thinking – or looking at life through the lens of negative thoughts. ABT or DBT? It’s your choice – opportunities vs. problems, strengths vs. weaknesses, what can be done instead of what can’t.

For more information on the ABT Mission and to learn why The Human Capital Institute called Asset-Based Thinking “the most powerful business term of the Knowledge Era”, go to assetbasedthinking.com. Oh, and the title of the book is “Change the Way You See Everything” by Dr. Kathryn Cramer.

Want more reasons to choose optimism and feel good?

Had enough of doom and gloom news reports? Check out The Good News Network (all the good news that is fit to print), and sign up to receive the top 10 good news stories each week.

And, to find out why happiness is good for business, check out Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh. Be on the lookout for the decked-out Delivering Happiness Bus as Tony and his team embark on a 20+ city bus tour with one mission in mind: To Inspire and Be Inspired. They just might be making a happiness stop in your neck of the woods

So as you go through your day, practice shifting to ABT. Maybe Abraham Lincoln said it best: “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

How about you? Have you ever been in a situation that looked like disaster but turned out to be a gift? How do you change your mind from Debit-Based to Asset-Based Thinking? Would love to hear your stories!

Tomorrow I’m off on my 6th Alaska cruise! Being in the business, it’s not so amazing that I’ve been there many times before… but when I touched base this week with the Vet who’s treating my Siamese “Susu” I learned that he, too, is headed to Alaska tomorrow… on his fourth Alaska cruise. And apparently he loves it as much as I do… the serenity, the skyscraping trees of the forests, mountains and glaciers all around, and the wildlife of nature (vs. the wildlife of Miami), and the refreshing sweater-weather which those of us who live in hotter climates can never get enough of – especially in August.

His outlook mirrored my own, though I’ve always heard people speak of Alaska as a “been there, done that” kind of destination. But that attitude really needs to be updated. After all, people repeatedly go to the Caribbean, or to their favorite cities in Europe. Why not Alaska? I highly recommend the experience  – the more you go, the more you can forego the excursions you’ve already tried, and just focus on the splendors of nature that we can’t see here in the lower 48 states — you can never get enough of that!

Perhaps my affection for Alaska is because Alaska was my first-ever cruise when I was working for Royal Viking Line, before we had our own ships. The accompanying photos are from my 70’s experience aboard the SS Mariposa, with Janice Farrar who handled the PR for Royal Viking, and who later married WarrenTitus, the company’s first president.

And of course I treasure the photo of me with my first “shipboard romance”, Mr Finn Berg – an 86-year old passenger who noticed me reading a Sherlock Holmes novel and struck up a conversation that continued during the trip. I say “shipboard romance” in a nostalgic way because those serendipitous friendships developed aboard ship don’t seem to happen much anymore, as dining when you want/when you want, and all the personal choices of entertainment and activities seem to keep people so busy, there’s little interest in connecting with fellow passengers who might expand your life.

I’m sailing on this cruise with my sister and her family, and I’m going to be on the lookout for all the people and experiences that contribute to the best vacations in life. This is where cruising certainly excels.

At Landry & Kling we always say…”Friendships made at sea are said to last a lifetime”. That line came from an early Royal Viking brochure, and it’s been our favorite toast, at sea and ashore for many years!

It’s the classic Goldilocks syndrome – for meeting planners. You’re planning an elite meeting or incentive program and need 99 rooms. You want an enticing destination that will motivate and inspire, but group privacy is a must. An event at sea is the best solution, but… a yacht’s too small and most cruise ships are too big. Now what?

A full ship charter of a smaller vessel might fit the bill (if you only had the budget), but your attendees also crave the variety of dazzling entertainment options, multiple dining venues, and exciting sports and recreational facilities offered on the big resort-style ships. This is no fairy tale, but there is a happy ending to the story.

A Dream Come True

Now imagine an elegant Italian “yacht” nestled within a state-of-the-art mega-ship. Ninety-nine sumptuous suites, 24-hour VIP butler and concierge services, a private pool and lounge – all reserved just for your group as they sail in extraordinary comfort and style to exotic Mediterranean ports.

Picture a haven of peace and refinement with an exclusive private club ambiance that also offers privileged access to a beautiful cruise ship with 13 bars and lounges, multiple dining venues, 4 outdoor pools, a casino, shops, multiple sports facilities and exotic spa (with a private elevator to whisk you back to your sophisticated enclave). And…it’s affordable.

No, you’re not dreaming – this is MSC Yacht Club and it can be yours – exclusively.

The MSC Yacht Club, available on MSC Cruises’ new ships, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, offers an upscale Mediterranean cruise experience with the personal attention and amenities found on luxury yachts, but at a value-packed price.  When you “charter” the MSC Yacht Club for your group, the per person rate is comparable to what you would pay for a 5-star hotel room, but it includes so much more!

MSC Yacht Club 24-hr Concierge Lobby

Included in your fare when you “charter” the MSC Yacht Club:

• 99 Italian designer ocean view suites in the most desirable section of the ship, all with private balcony or panoramic windows
• Exclusive private lounge with stunning views and plasma screen monitors to follow the ship’s course or view star constellations
• Private solarium pool and bar
• 24-hour Concierge lobby and 24-hour white-glove Butler service
• Multiple venues suitable for meetings and receptions with complimentary AV
• Library reserved exclusively for your attendees
• Beverages served in your private lounge, pool and bar area including select wines, spirits, beer, soft drinks, mineral water and specialty coffee
• Reserved VIP area in the main dining room, specialty restaurants, and 24-hour room service
• Priority check-in and check-out
• Visits to multiple Mediterranean ports with the convenience of unpacking only once
• Plus all the onboard facilities, entertainment venues and amenities of a large resort-style ship

Your MSC Yacht Club Private Lounge

VIP amenities in your MSC Yacht Club suites include:

• Samsung LCD TV screens
• Egyptian cotton bed sheets &  top quality ergonomic mattresses
• Full bath featuring spa tub and marble fixtures
• Free equipment available to access the internet
• Nintendo WII consoles
• Dorelan pillow menu for personalized comfort
• Full complimentary mini-bar
• Aromatherapy toiletries
• Luxury courtesy bathrobes and slippers

MSC Yacht Club Library exclusively yours

The Royal Treatment

The MSC Yacht Club offers much more than deluxe accommodation. What makes it such an unforgettable experience is the way guests are treated like royalty, thanks to the discreet, personal attention of a concierge and team of butlers.

Following priority check-in, your attendees are welcomed on board with champagne and canapés and introduced to their personal butlers, who then escort them to their suites and offer to unpack their suitcases. Throughout their voyage, the simple touch of a pager will summon their butlers for attentive personal services such as complimentary shoe shine and laundry, newspaper delivery, and traditional English afternoon tea.

The butlers can also make priority bookings for tender access and shore excursions, make spa or restaurant reservations, reserve front row seats in the theatre for evening performances, and even arrange private after-hours shopping in the onboard boutiques.

More Options for Larger Groups and Family Programs

If you’re planning a meeting or incentive for a larger group, or prefer to sail in the Caribbean or other destination, MSC Cruises has you covered. Nine other modern vessels offer a multitude of big-ship amenities and Italian hospitality in the Caribbean, New England/Canada, Northern Europe or South America.

Planning a family program? You and your attendees will appreciate MSC Cruises’ supervised programs for children and teens. And, MSC’s “kids sail free” policy for children 11 years old and younger will make your budget planning even easier.

About MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is the fastest-growing cruise line in the world. A family-run company, MSC Cruises’ Italian heritage is evident in the design, style and warm hospitality onboard their contemporary vessels. MSC Cruises not only cares for their cruise guests, they are committed to protecting and preserving the environment. MSC Fantasia is the first “Eco-Friendly” cruise ship to receive the Six Golden Pearls Award for achieving the highest environmental standards.

To book the MSC Yacht Club for your exclusive group, click on MSC Cruise Search.

Let’s imagine you’re planning a meeting or incentive program for a top-tier group that’s well-traveled and sophisticated. Each attendee has demonstrated stellar performance to qualify for this trip, and you want to wow them with an event that will exceed their expectations. They expect – and deserve – the best accommodations, service, and amenities.

A 5-star resort is bound to be too expensive and too extravagant, especially when you cost in meals, receptions, A/V equipment, special events, entertainment and transportation to off-site dinners. It’s the most daunting challenge meeting planners face today: how to top last year’s program and increase ROI with less time and a tightened budget.

There is a solution…

You don’t have to choose between premium quality and extraordinary value. You can have both when you meet at sea on a Silversea ship. Whether you need a limited number of suites for an exclusive incentive, or a full ship charter for a private and highly customized experience, Silversea can accommodate all your business needs. Their intimate, 5-star ships are truly all-inclusive, simplifying your planning and saving you money. In fact…

A Silversea Full-Ship Charter Can Save You up to $600,000

You read it right – we’re talking dollar-to-dollar savings of over half a million dollars for a group of 540 sailing in the Mediterranean, when compared to a 5-star hotel program. It may seem too good to be true, but we have the numbers to prove it. To see a line-item comparison chart, click on How a Silversea cruise compares to a 5-star hotel.

When it comes to pricing your all-inclusive Silversea program, there are no surprises. At the end of your voyage, you’ll never be blindsided by unplanned expenses.

All-Inclusive Value. Your Silversea cruise program includes:

• All Ocean-View Suite Accommodation —most with private veranda
• Butler Service in All Suites -Pampering butler service for all
• Chilled bottle of champagne and cabinet stocked with preferred beverages in every suite
• Gourmet Dining in a variety of dining venues, all with open seating and no assigned dining time
• Complimentary In-Suite Dining and 24-hour room service
• Complimentary Beverages – selection of fine wines, champagne, spirits, bottled water and soft drinks
• All Onboard Gratuities included — none are ever expected.
• Variety of entertainment options and enrichment classes
• Fitness Classes led by the onboard fitness trainer
• Complimentary A/V Equipment and Meeeting Space - Conference rooms, theaters and lounges for meetings and receptions
• Complimentary transportation from the pier to the heart of town in most ports of call

Ships Built for Charters and Incentive Groups

Silversea understands your business needs. Whether you’re planning a small meeting with fewer than 75 people or need an exclusive charter for an incentive group of 100 to 540, your cruise event will be a tailor-made experience.

Silversea’s public rooms and facilities are available for presentations, receptions, meetings and breakouts. Each ship features a conference room with audio visual equipment and a large multi-tiered Show Lounge, as well as lounges offering stunning panoramic ocean views to inspire fresh thinking. Your attendees will enjoy six-star dining a choice of beautifully appointed restaurants – one of which can accommodate all guests in one seating.

Internet services are available on all Silversea ships. Guests may use their own laptop with wireless card in their suite or at WiFi locations throughout the ship, and computers are available in the Internet Café. Your attendees can also use their mobile phones and PDA devices while at sea (roaming rates apply).

Oceans of Options

When your attendees aren’t in meetings or exploring fascinating ports of call, they’ll be glad to know their ship offers a variety of onboard activities and diversions. Ship facilities include a world-class spa, well-equipped fitness center, a well-stocked book and video/DVD library, and spacious pool deck. There are also plenty of opportunities to expand their knowledge and learn new skills through Silversea’s enrichment program.

The Crowning Touch – Butler Service for Everyone

The dedicated services of a professional butler are the crowning touch to Silversea’s renowned, personalized service. Every one of your attendees will experience delightful surprises that go beyond the expected.

Upon arrival, your attendees will be welcomed with chilled champagne in their suite, and given a selection of toiletries and choice of goosedown, hypoallergenic, or therapeutic pillows. Their butler will explain the in-suite entertainment controls, unpack their luggage, hang clothing and set out personal items. And the pampering treatment continues throughout their voyage.

A Ship of Your Own

When a Silversea ship is chartered, total exclusivity in a secure and confidential environment is assured. You set the schedule, you choose the itinerary. The maximum capacity on Silver Cloud and Silver Wind is 294, and 388 on Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper (based on double occupancy). The newest addition to the fleet, Silver Spirit, accommodates 540 persons in 270 sumptuous suites.

Worldwide Destinations, Experiential Voyages

Small ship cruising allows you to visit exotic, less-visited ports not accessible to larger cruise ships. Silversea ships sail to 400 ports in seven continents – imagine the possibilities! Whether you choose to sail in the Caribbean, South America, Mediterranean, Alaska, or the Baltic, your Silversea program will be a journey of discovery your group will never forget.

Learn more about Silversea Cruises and discover what sets them apart.  To charter a Silversea ship or book a group, click on Silversea Cruise Search.